Finally, I have this relaxing and peaceful moment wherein I can write everything I experienced from the HivePH Meetup 2023. It was something that I didn’t expect would come and I would be part of it. For someone like me who was writing not too long ago and was friended with amazing people I only know online was absolutely hyping me up. I barely had good preparation for this meetup because I had plenty of errands and school works to finish every day. However, the most important thing was I attended and I met them in an extraordinary way.
Looking back at how things were, especially in preparation for this meetup. I already feel the excitement and eagerness to meet them personally. For instance, @hiveph staff is the people I always look up to because despite their busy schedules and professional work. They can still manage the community very well. For the same reason, I wanted to meet all of them, particularly @adamada and @arcspy because I haven’t seen their faces yet.
Furthermore, the first people I met were ate @cindee08 and @cli4d. We met at PITX and traveled to Ayala Museum via Grab to meet others as well. Inside the car, we talked about several random things including our expectations of others’ faces and what our journey in HIVE was. It was a very interesting moment when I had a first glance of @akumagai and @adamada from afar. I didn’t know that it was Adam though.
Approaching the peeps, @jude.villarta, @ishwoundedhealer, @arcsgspy, @demotry, @wittyzell, @cthings, @adamada, and @akumagai made me shiver. I was like, “Oh gosh, I’ve only seen and heard them online and now they were in front of me”. It was surreal. In all honesty, I want to hug Jude first because she is one of the people I’m closest to and she’s huggable as well. How I wish @jijisaurart was there, too. I was really shy, but I still manage to collect myself and have a good conversation with them.
We took some photos in Ayala Triangle Gardens. I observed and enjoyed the walk because it was my first time in the place. Honestly, I expected that it would be hot in Makati, but not to the point that it was very hot. We were all sweating and I felt bad for others because I know they were having a hard time. Ate Cindee, ate Ish, Ford and I stayed there for minutes and we watched a guy who was performing. He was a good singer.
We decided to go to Filipino Lobo Tavern where the meetup place will be held. We walked from Ayala Triangle Gardens to the said place. It was super cool. The night walk was wonderful and we had good conversations, too. The tall buildings were something I looked forward to in Makati. Lol!
When we reached the meetup place, we had no time to fix ourselves because all we did was to talk to peeps. I saw kuya @tpkidkai who was at the door and I greeted him. But I was really shocked when I saw Miss @indayclara who was busy capturing and videoing. I thought she couldn’t make it. When she saw me, I was like, “Gosh, she’s real! She’s so real!” I believed I hugged her and greeted her nicely. Thus, I say hi to ate @lhes, ate @romeskie, @bananzell, @maverickinvictus, and @nmore. If I recall correctly, my hands were shaking while writing my name because I felt so happy seeing them in person.
A few minutes later, @sensiblecast came and I was surprised to see him. His looks and body build were the same as in the photo I saw online. He was a cool and nice guy. I love his hair though. After that, @kraaaaa followed and I didn’t know him actually. Never had an interaction with him in Discord but when we had a few conversations, he was like an angelic person. He knew how to communicate and socialize with people. Amazing bro!
In all honesty, I loved the dishes served on the table. Especially, the Sisig, Bulalo (I am not sure), and Lechon Kawali. The other dishes were fine as well but not my type. I remember the dish that tasted like Suman. It was very new to me. Aside from that, the drinks were good. We have the freedom to drink whatever we want and it was a good start to warm up our stomachs. Lol! The games, singing sessions, and photoshoots were memories that even today were vividly clear in my mind. The laughs and smiles I’ve seen were pure and genuine.
I guessed the best memories and the highlight for me was when we were in the KTV Bar. Only a few left and some sang at the top of their lungs. I loved the drinks, especially tequila. I know that everyone was enjoying and having a good time. It was a kind of bonding that will be imprinted in my memory. The connecting straight pointing finger with @kraaaaa was very funny. I’m aware that I’m not drunk yet. Goodness!
I want to start my honest opinion with the people who attended the meetup. Let’s go first with kuya @demotry, looking at him, he looked like a shy-type guy, and when I had a conversation with him. He was a soft-spoken person and I liked his genuine smile. Ate @lhes was the kind of sister who will constantly remind you of things. She was funny and had a lot of stories to tell. I knew her a long time ago and to see her personally was incredible. Ate @ishwoundedhealer was like a close sister to me. She had this aura and vibe that was so graceful and comforting. Never thought that I would be close to her after the meetup.
Nanay @romeskie was very busy sorting things in meetup but you can tell how eager she was to talk with all of us. I loved our conversations about careers and how she ended up being a homeschool teacher for her daughter. What an amazing mom. Miss @wittyzell was someone I adore ever since I entered the HivePH community. She was accommodating and friendly. She had the vibe that tells you, you can approach her anytime. I am sorry miss for pinching your cute cheeks. Kuya @adamada was not as intimidating as he was in Discord. He was polite, and kind, and shared useful knowledge that you can use in the future. Thank you for the advices and I appreciated it a lot.
Kuya @tpkidkai was a super cool kuya. Smiling and roaming around to talk with people and I loved his sense of humor. We haven’t had a long conversation but looking forward to it at another time. Ate @nmore was super pretty, gosh! I didn’t expect her to be so gentle and approachable. I loved her outfits, though. Lol! Thus, I had the comfort to talk with her. Ate @arcgspy was still the same voice in Discord. We had no lengthy conversations but seeing her personally made me happy. Finally, I knew what her face was and she was totally adorable. Ate @cthings was so pretty, OMG! I never thought that her face was so small and her killer smile was lovely. I always say hi to her because I didn’t know what to say. She was very kind and friendly on top of that.
Ate @cindee08 was the funnies and jolliest person in the meetup. She lightened the mood and made everyone laugh. Her good sense of humor made her win an award, lol! Thank you for the treat ate. See you soon. @akumagai was a tall and nice person. I thought he was intimidating but I was wrong. I had no lengthy conversation with him as well but he was nice. Ate @bananzell was super cute and her smiles are so amazing. I like the way she talked and how she interacted with people. @jude.villarta was the friend that I’m happy to meet with. I hugged her several times and her pleasing laughs were the best. I couldn’t believe that I met you but see you again, Jude.
Miss @indayclara was the sexiest and happiest woman I’ve seen in the meetup. In all honesty, I was starstruck by her and her aura like, “Talk to me, I’m a nice girl”. I want to hug her but I just can’t because I think that would be very disrespectful. But I hugged her when we departed and I want to meet you again, miss. Lastly, @cli4d shocked me when he sang because I haven’t heard him sing in front of the crowd. You made my day and night awesome. I was always thankful for you that you came with me. You know very well what happened and will not spill anything here.
To HivePH community members who didn’t make it to the meetup. There is a second time sure and I hope you can also experience the same thing. I look forward to meeting everyone, especially the people I talk with like @jijisaurart and @eunoia101. That was a good and memorable experience that I will never forget.
Some images are taken from miss @indayclara and miss @wittyzell.